Sichuan Airlines

History

Sichuan Airlines was established on 19 September 1986 and began commercial operations on 14 July 1988 with an inaugural flight linking Chengdu and Wanzhou, becoming one of the earliest regional carriers to emerge as China's aviation sector opened up. The airline underwent a significant corporate restructuring in 2002 that reorganized its ownership and set the stage for rapid expansion over the following two decades. It grew into one of China's largest independent airlines, notable for operating an all-Airbus fleet and for the emergency landing of Flight 8633 in 2018, which drew global attention to its crew's skill. Today its ownership is shared among the Sichuan Airlines Group, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Air China Group, reflecting deep ties across China's major state carriers while it continues to operate as a distinct, Chengdu-based airline.

Current Operations

Sichuan Airlines operates an all-Airbus fleet of roughly 210 aircraft spanning the A319, A320/A320neo, A321/A321neo and A321LR narrowbodies alongside A330 and A350 widebodies, with additional Comac C919 aircraft on order as part of its fleet-modernization plans. The airline runs a multi-hub structure centered on Chengdu (both Shuangliu and the newer Tianfu airport), with further hubs in Chongqing and Kunming, serving an extensive domestic Chinese network plus international routes across East and Southeast Asia and growing long-haul links to Australia, Europe, and North America. It is not a member of any of the three major global alliances but maintains bilateral codeshare agreements with numerous international carriers. Its position as a major shareholder-linked but operationally independent carrier, combined with its widebody long-haul ambitions from Chengdu, marks it as one of China's most significant non-alliance airlines.

Last verified 2026-08-22· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.

Serves These Profiled Airports42

Sample Routes8